PART 3AMENDMENTS OF SECONDARY LEGISLATION

CHAPTER 1SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations31

1

The State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 200387 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (9).

2

In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)—

a

after the definition of “the Computation of Earnings Regulations”88 insert—

  • “contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance” means an allowance under the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as amended by the provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 that remove references to an income-based allowance, and a contribution-based allowance under the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as that Order has effect apart from those provisions;

b

for the definition of “contributory employment and support allowance”89 substitute—

  • “contributory employment and support allowance” means an allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 as amended by the provisions of Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 12, to the 2015 Order that remove references to an income-related allowance, and a contributory allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act as that Part has effect apart from those provisions;

c

after the definition of “the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations”90 insert—

  • “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” means an income-based allowance under the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;

d

after the definition of “the Skipton Fund”91 insert—

  • “universal credit” means universal credit under Part 2 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015;

3

In regulation 6(5)(b) (amount of the guarantee credit)92 after “(carers allowance)” insert “, or has an award of universal credit which includes the carer element under regulation 30 of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016,”.

4

In regulation 9(c) (qualifying income for the purposes of savings credit) omit “within the meaning of Article 3(4) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995”.

5

In regulation 13A(1)(a) (part-weeks)93 before “income support” insert “universal credit,”.

6

In regulation 13B(1)(d) (date on which benefits are treated as paid)94 omit “within the meaning of Article 3(4) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995”.

7

In paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 (circumstances in which persons are treated as being or not being severely disabled)95

a

in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(iii) after the words “(carer’s allowance)” insert “, or has an award of universal credit which includes the carer element,”;

b

in the closing words of sub-paragraph (1)(b)—

i

after the words “under section 70 of the Contributions and Benefits Act” insert “, or has an award of universal credit which includes the carer element,”, and

ii

after the words “such an allowance” insert “under section 70, or has an award of universal credit which includes the carer element,”;

c

in sub-paragraph (1)(c)(iv) after the words “Contributions and Benefits Act” insert “, or has an award of universal credit which includes the carer element,”;

d

in sub-paragraph (2)(c) after the words “Contributions and Benefits Act” insert “, or as having an award of universal credit which includes the carer element,”; and

e

after sub-paragraph (3) insert—

4

For the purposes of this paragraph, a person has an award of universal credit which includes the carer element if the person has an award of universal credit which includes an amount which is the carer element under regulation 30 of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.

8

In Schedule 2 (housing costs)—

a

at the end of paragraph 1(2)(b)(iv)96 insert—

or

v

is entitled to an award of universal credit the calculation of which includes an amount under regulation 28(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 in respect of the fact that he has limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity, or would include such an amount but for regulation 28(4) or 30(4) of those Regulations;

b

in paragraph 14 (persons residing with the claimant)—

i

at the end of sub-paragraph (7)(f) omit “or”

ii

at the end of sub-paragraph (7)(g)97 for “.” substitute “; or”

iii

after sub-paragraph (7)(g) insert—

h

if he is aged less than 25 and is entitled to an award of universal credit which is calculated on the basis that he does not have any earned income.

iv

after sub-paragraph (8) insert—

9

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (7)(h), “earned income” has the meaning given in regulation 51 of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.

9

In Part 1 of Schedule 5 (capital disregarded for the purpose of calculating income)—

a

in paragraph 20(2)98, after paragraph (o)99 insert—

p

universal credit.

b

in paragraph 20A(2)100

i

at the end of paragraph (c) omit “or”, and

ii

at the end of paragraph (d) insert—

or

e

paragraph 18 of Schedule 10 to the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016,